Luca Van Assche outlasted Alexander Blockx 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 in a break‑heavy Estoril first‑rounder, converting eight of 13 break points to the Belgian's six of 16. The Frenchman's superior first‑serve percentage (80% to 45%) proved decisive, even as Blockx fired seven aces to Van Assche's one.
The opening set saw five breaks in the first five games, with Van Assche taking a 3-2 lead and holding the rest of the way. Blockx turned the tables in the second, breaking three times — including for 4-2 and again at 4-6 — to force a decider. Van Assche raced to a 3-0 lead in the third, but Blockx clawed back to 5-5 before Van Assche broke at 6-5 to close it out.
Van Assche saved only 4 of 10 break points (40%), yet won 42 of 70 first‑serve points (60%) and relentlessly attacked Blockx's second serve, winning 64% of those return points. The Belgian, despite a 36% second‑serve points won, could not prevent the decisive late break.